This paper discusses recent research findings together with management schemes in preventing and managing of thermal stress by handling external and internal factors in livestock production systems. Preventive measure...This paper discusses recent research findings together with management schemes in preventing and managing of thermal stress by handling external and internal factors in livestock production systems. Preventive measures against thermal stress are described as basic structural adjustments and the modifications that can be implemented readily, according to animal health and welfare requirements and refer to （1） environmental modification and thermal comfort in various housing systems; （2） action on animals, such as genetic selection for breeds resistant to infectious disease, parasites and climate extremes; （3） action on feed and （4） action on staff handling the animals. Moreover, measures to be taken both in situations of chronic thermal stress and heat or cold strokes are presented as they are applied to （1） limit stress, （2） monitor the temperature felt by animals, （3） adapt diet and drinking water supplies and （4） correct physiological imbalances. Examples are given for different farm species （cattle, sheep, goat, poultry and pigs） and different production systems （intensive, extensive and alternative）. The paper concludes with a practical guide for the effective handling of thermal stress at farm level, summarizing the results from recent research studies on the specific topic.展开更多
文摘This paper discusses recent research findings together with management schemes in preventing and managing of thermal stress by handling external and internal factors in livestock production systems. Preventive measures against thermal stress are described as basic structural adjustments and the modifications that can be implemented readily, according to animal health and welfare requirements and refer to （1） environmental modification and thermal comfort in various housing systems; （2） action on animals, such as genetic selection for breeds resistant to infectious disease, parasites and climate extremes; （3） action on feed and （4） action on staff handling the animals. Moreover, measures to be taken both in situations of chronic thermal stress and heat or cold strokes are presented as they are applied to （1） limit stress, （2） monitor the temperature felt by animals, （3） adapt diet and drinking water supplies and （4） correct physiological imbalances. Examples are given for different farm species （cattle, sheep, goat, poultry and pigs） and different production systems （intensive, extensive and alternative）. The paper concludes with a practical guide for the effective handling of thermal stress at farm level, summarizing the results from recent research studies on the specific topic.
